Locking device



Dec. 20, 1927. 1,653,339

w. H. CARMAN ET AL LOCKING DEVI CE Filed April 5. 1927 Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM H. CARMALT AE'ID VIVIAN K. DAVISON, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed April 5, 1927. Serial No. 181,132.

This invention relates generally to locking devices, and has more particular reference to improved means for securing a plurality of members together and locking them in secured relation.

A further object is to provide a device of the above kind wherein the locking action is obtained by a sealing operation so as to reveal any surreptitious tampering with the device when in use.

The present invention, although capable of various general uses, is particularly designed as a fastener for bolting an automobile license tag upon a mounting bracket and securely locking said tag in its bolted condition whereby theft of the auto tag is dis couraged.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combina tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is an elevational view showing an automobile license tag secured and locked to a mounting bracket by means of a pair of locking devices constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing a corner portion of the tag and the associated fastener plate, of the device shown in Figure 1, before being locked;

Figure 3 is a section taken upon line 3-3 of Figure 2 of the locking plate prior to insertion of the locking key and fastening of the latter in place;

Figured is a view similar to Figure 3 with the locking key in place and fastened:

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a rod havan. end formed to provide a key of the all) in form shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section upon line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the bolt forming part of the present locking deviceor fastener.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the present locking device comprises a bolt having a threaded stem 5 and preferably a relatively large flat-lil e head 6, the stem be ing' materially reduced in diameter intermediate its ends as at 7. As shown in Figures 8 and 4, the stem 5 of the bolt is adapted to. be passed through aligned openings of the members to be fastened together, such as the mounting bracket B and the automobile license tag T, and a suitable nut 8 is provided for being threaded upon the stem 5 of the bolt inwardly of the reduced portion 7 of said bolt stein, whereby the members B and T are firmly clamped between the nut 8 and the head 6 of the bolt. This leaves the reduced portion 7 and the outer threaded portion of the bolt stem 5 projecting beyond the nut 8, and adapted for reception upon these projecting portions of the bolt stem is an apertured plate 9 of soft malleable metal, such as lead or a lead alloy, the aperture of the plate 9 being of substantially the same diameter as the larger threaded portions of the bolt stem as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The locking plate 5 is formed with a further transverse opening 10 intersecting and extending at right angles to the bolt stem receiving aperture so as to register with the reduced portion 7 of the bolt stem when in place against the outer face of the nut 8. Adapted for reception in the transverse opening 10 of the locking plate 9 is a locking key 11 having a notched or bifurcated inner end as at 12 adapted to partially embrace the reduced portion of the bolt stem when fully inserted in the opening 10 so that, it retained in place, removal of the plate 9 from the bolt stein will be prc- Vented and threading of the nut 8 oil of the bolt stem also prevented so that surreptitious removal of the tag T from the bracket 13 will be discouraged. The locking key 11 is retained in place by distortion of the malleable locking plate 9 as shown in Figure 41, the outer end of the key being reduced in thickness upon opposite sides as at 18 and 1-1 for this purpose. Also, the inner end portion of the key 11 is provided at one side with a transverse groove 15 into which a portion of the material of the plate 9 out wardly of the opening 10 may be forced by the use of a sealing die or the like. iVhen this is done, the key 11 will be effectively locked within the opening 10 so as to engage the reduced portion 7 behind the shoulder 16 defined at the outer end of the latter so that the removal of the locking plate 9 is prevented. While the material of the looking plate 9 has been disclosed at 17 as pressed together at opposite sides of the the groove 15 resorted to as at 18. The opening 10 is merely formed entirely through the plate 9 to "facilitate production, it being only essential, as far as the use at the device is concerned to extend the opening from one edge or the plate 9 to the bolt stein receiving aperture of the latter, which latter aperture is indicated at 19.

In practice, the key 11 may be formed as an integral. end portion of a rod of suitable metal, the reduction of the hey upon opposite sides at 13 and 14.- ttorining a. weal:- ened connection as 21 between the outer end of the key and the adjacent portion of the rod 20. Thus, the rod 20 may be eroployed as a handle to insert the lrey in the opening 10, whereupon said rod may be bent so as to cause the key 11 to break off from the same at the weakened line 21.

In using the device in connection with automobile tags, one device will be employed at each upper corner of the tag and the assoelated end of the mounting liu'aclret as disclosed in Figure 1, so that the tag will be properly see red in position.

A locking device constructed as described above is simple, and inexpensive in construction and may be readily applied to form an ef icient sealed locking device tor the intended purposes.

Minor changes may be made Without de parting; from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

il l'iat we claim as new is 1. in a locking device of the character eeseribed, a bolt having threaded stein reduced in diameter between its ends, a not adapted to be threaded onto the stem to a position inwardly of the intermediate re duced portion thereof, a locking plate of soft malleable inetal having an aperture to receive the bolt stem and adapted to be disposed on the latter at the outer side of the nut, said locking plate having a transverse opening; intersecting the aperture thereof, and a key in said opening engaged at its inner end with the reduced portion of the bolt stern and adapted to be retained in place by distortion of the locking plate there against.

in a locking device oi the character described, bolt having a threaded stein rcduced in diameter between it; ends, a nut adapted to be threaded onto the s "n to a position inwardly ot' the inter-nit e. 1. duced portion thereof. a lock 5 plate of soft malleable inetal having an aperture to reeeive the bolt stern and adapted to be disaces posed on the latter at the outer side of the nut, said lecithin plate havin transverse openiinr intersecting the aperture thereott, and a key in said opening engaged at its in nor end with the reduced portion of the bolt stern and adapted to be retained in place by distortion of the locking, plate thereagainst, said hey having; a bijlurcated inner end to partly embrace the reduced portion of said bolt stenr 8. ln a locking device of the character de scribed, a bolt having a threaded stein reduced in diameter between its ends, a nut adapted to be threaded onto the stern to a position inwardly of the intermediate re duced portion thereoia locking plate of so it malleable metal havingan aperture to re ceive the bolt stem and adapted to be dis posed on the latter at the outer side of the nut, said locking plate having a transverse opening intersecting the aperture thereof, and a key in said opening engaged at its in nor end with the reduced portion of t he bolt stern and adapted to be retained in place by distortion of the locking plate thereagainst, said hey having transverse groove into which a portion of the locking plate may be pressed when distorted.

4i. i'; locking device including ing a stern reduced in diameter between its ends and threaded inwardly of the reduced portion to threadedly receive a nut, a locking plate adapted to be placed on the bolt stern outwarc'lly of the nut and having a transverse bore to register with t a bolt havne reduced portion of the bolt stern, and :1 hey in said bore having a notched inner end engaging the reduced portion of the bolt stein, said locking plate being formed oi? sot't malleable metal to tacilitate distortion thereoi to se cure the key in place.

5. A locking device including a bolt hav ing' a stern reduced in dian'ietor between its ends and threaded inwardly oil. the reduced portion to threadedly receive nut, a locking plate adapted to be placed on the bolt stein outwardly of the nut and haviu a transverse bore to r or with the rruiluced portion of the bolt stem, :1 key in said bore ha ing a notched inner end ol'll *2"l11;f the reduced portion of the bolt stein, said locking plate being; formed of soft malleable metal to facilitate distr tiou thcriai'l to sot-ri e the key in place, and said her having); a portion reduced in thickness whereby removal is prevented when the n'ialerial oi"- the locking; plate is pressed tliercaaainst by such distortion.

in testimony whercot we ill'ilX our sin-um tures. 

